Podcast 827: Previewing Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival with Danny Melnick

It's a pleasure to be able to say that there is a two day live jazz festival happening this weekend, June 25-26, in upstate New York. After a one-year hiatus, the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival is back! Scaled down in size due to health restrictions, nonetheless Danny Melnick, the festival producer is happy with the results. Any festival that presents Christian McBridge, Dianne Reeves, Joey Alexander, Cecile McLoren Salvant, Artemis, and Al DiMeola is bound to be a winner.  Podcast 827 is my annual conversation with Danny, as he talks about the long road to return he and his team have taken to get live music back on stage. Musical highlights of the podcast include Christian McBride's New Jawn performing "Walkin' Funny" from their debut CD and Artemis playing "Big Top" from their eponymous album of last year.  Acts scheduled to appear: SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 Christian McBride New Jawn Christian McBride, bass Marcus Strickland, saxophones Josh Evans, trumpet Nasheet Waits, drums Dianne Reeves Dianne Reeves, vocals Romero Lubambo, guitar Itaiguara Brandao, bass Ms. Nêgah Santos, percussion Joey Alexander Joey Alexander, piano Larry Grenadier, bass Kendrick Scott, drums Hot Club of Saratoga Chuck Kish, guitar, vocals Jonathan Greene, clarinet Tucker Callander, violin Dylan Perrillo, bass, vocals Brad Brose, guitar, banjo Julia Posin, vocals SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 Cecile McLorin Salvant Cecile McLorin Salvant, vocals Sullivan Fortner, piano Rogerio Boccato, percussion Marvin Sewell, guitar Dayna Stephens, flute, EWI (electronic wind instrument) Artemis Renee Rosnes, piano, musical director Ingrid Jensen, trumpet Nicole Glover, tenor saxophone Noriko Ueda, bass Allison Miller, drums Al Di Meola Al Di Meola, guitar Garland Nelson's Joyful Noise Garland Nelson, voice Annette Harris, voice Georgia Jones, voice Chris Dollard, voice Patricia Burke, voice Azzaam Hameed, piano Al Brisbane, bass George Spencer, drums